It’s a vibration killer for your turntable - Fluance IB40 isolation base review

External vibrations are public enemy No. 1 for your turntable… Today we’re checking out the new Fluance IB40 Isolation base review. It promises to manage external interference.
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Videos shot live on location near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

[@rbwduece1]

Perfect for people like me who have their turntable sitting on top on their washing machine. Those heavy spin cycles really make my needle skip around.

[@Channel33RPM]

Lol

[@Onteo1]

Yeah but those records are clean and smell fresh.

[@gregbenefield7658]

😂😂

[@josephpardue6277]

I found that Home Depot sells a Gardening Knee pad made from dense foam that sells for $11 and is the same size as my turntable. No more vibrations and it looks good .

[@harrybaque5502]

I did the $40 of cutting boards and cork trick and am satisfied. The looks are better but I’m happy with what I have!

[@railenthusiast7654]

I bought an "Auralex" turntable isolation platform ($87)for my "go to" turntable. It's a cheap plastic base Technics SL- 220 (1978) and sits on top of several record cubes. While the weight of the records isolate footsteps across the floor I was noticing a thumping especially while getting another record ready to play using the rest of the space available on the record cubes. The isolation platform did the job. It cost about half of the Fluance isolation platform but doesn't look anywhere as nice. I was thinking about getting another one for my Technics SL- 1200 mk2 but it sits on a very heavy wood furniture audio rack and never have noticed any noise through it from anything so, that would be a waste of money for me. If I had not bought the Auralex, I would probably go with the Fluance mainly for "eye" appeal. Great channel Frank! Very informative. Always look forward to your videos. Thanks very much. P.S. the guy that has his turntable sitting on his washing machine definitely needs one! LOL!!!

[@gln121970]

I have my table on a self built shelf - butcher block and high quality industrial wall brackets. I have a very bouncy wood floor and a toddler. When she rips through the living room it would cause the needle to skip when the table was on my console. I had used the butcher block as an isolation base with Isoacoustics feet prior to the shelf. This mostly stopped footfall skips but the toddler showed the deficiencies still present. Now she can dance out to Bluey Dance Mode spinning on the table and all is good. The board was from an old kitchen counter we replaced and the brackets ran me about ten bucks a pop.

[@ppsferland]

Great review Frank. For myself, I've been using the zaZen II from ISO Acoustics - another Canadian company and it makes all the difference. My set is on the main floor and our house is over 50 years old and the floor is a bit springy... The zaZen II is just amazing for me.

[@mrhoffame]

A guy once told me something that made a ton of sense. He said rarely do you make one change to a systems (outside of an amp, turntable, or speakers) and hear a major difference. He said usually it's a combination of a number of things being upgraded that add up to a change in sound. I think isolation platforms fit into that. Hard to hear a change with just that, but you also upgrade your stylus, speaker cables, etc and all those things come together for a better sound. I love focusing on isolation in a system because you don't have to spend a tong of $ to enhance it.

[@Channel33RPM]

Wise words.

[@RJ-eg2nx]

I have the Fluance RT85 turntable, so that would match mine. I am currently not having any issues with sound. I greatly appreciate your honesty in your review.

[@ralphreinhardt6020]

Yeah, if i got it for free. I'd keep on using it too. A good review Frank, appreciate your honesty bud. 😎👍

[@Channel33RPM]

Thanks 👍

[@DustyD0]

I use a marble cutting board for the same function, just putting mass and isolation in between my turntable any everything else. My system had issues with a low end feedback loop despite already being on a solid hifi stand, and using cork isolation feet, but the marble adds that extra mass to stop the feedback, even at high volumes. So I can definitely get why you may have heard a slight improvement in the low end, since I'd figure if the low end is being muddied with some low end feedback removing that feedback might just clear it up.

[@andrewpannelli8016]

I always like your reviews. I like the honesty of saying, what you saw, in your environment, was minimal. But, you go on to point out some people because of their environment and gear, may be able to benefit from it. So we make our own choices based on our own individual needs.

[@fdgibson]

It does look great and I might buy one myself, but yeah, I’m one of those “cutting board” guys that you mentioned lol. I bought a 2 inch thick rectangular board at Lowe’s for about $60 and stabilized it with four hockey pucks, with one on each corner of the board. It serves me well!

[@keithnelson9233]

I made my own from 2 ikea bamboo cutting boards, 8 half inch ball bearings and a set of leveling feet. I have around $60 in the whole setup. It definitely works on dampening vibrations. Buy it needs to settle in to see the full results.

[@davidh7959]

I have 3 Sorbothane 3/4" half moon pucks under the 3 levelling feet of my Music Hall turntable. I think they made a difference but if not they were cheap enough. Great honest vid, thanks Frank.

[@crimsonghost6454]

At the price , it could be worth a try. Matching their turntables is very cool. I have an RT-85 in walnut so I might give this a shot. Even a small improvement would please me. It's great to see Fluance offer value and quality as well as products like this.

[@Kane26510]

I don’t use an isolation base, but I do use sorbothane pucks (1/2” thick; 2 1/4” diameter) on my two in-service turntables. I bought them years ago and they still work like I just took them out of the package. Each one will run you $25.00US, which is quite a bit higher than the $14 or so per I paid. I notice a difference due to using subs on both systems to which they are connected. The cost for 4 (Fluance TTs have three feet, so that’s a plus) is slightly cheaper that the IB40, but the IB40 is NOT out of line in price comparison. Good video, Frank, as always! Cheers.

[@rayk6049]

Using a nicely machined slab of granite. It weights a ton, looks really nice and has vibration dampening. Best part was free from a buddy in the trades.

[@garyjackson2617]

Love your equipment reviews and frequently read the comments for additional. Keep up the good work Frank

[@Channel33RPM]

Thanks 👍

[@tryintobesoquiet]

This is a ages old turntable problem having been cussed/discussed and addressed by various companies and diyer’s down through the years. And…one of the reasons us old heads got so excited about cd players. Sometimes I feel like I living in the Ground Hog Day movie. 😂

[@NoEgg4u]

Please review a Townshend Seismic Isolation Platform. I am confident that you will be impressed with the improvement of your sound quality. They are built, based on your specifications, such as the dimensions of the platform, and the weight of the turntable. They use high quality springs (that they call cells). I have never seen such high quality springs. They make platforms that are designed for speakers, that can hold several hundred pounds. Start with your turntable. You will get the most bang for your buck. Then try one under your other boxes (tube gear will benefit the most).

[@DavidSusiloUnscripted]

Try the IsoAcoustics Zazen 1. The difference can actually be measured using either laser vibrometer and calibrated mic with an RTA.

[@JoesBlows]

​@crazyprayingmantis5596 Exactly. Like stylus vibrations are the biggest weakest link in all the low to mid budget consumer electronics gear we have here.

[@VintageStereoCollectorChannel]

Nice review Frank. I did a lot of research online and came to the conclusion that it’s not worth it. My 48” long stereo rack sits on a hardwood floor and our house has a crawlspace. I put 1/2”x 2” plastic (they have nails so you can hammer them in) strips on the ends of the 4 wood legs to create less contact area with the floor. Finally, I placed 1 inch Sorbothane pads under the feet of both turntables. Now I can jump up and down on the floor and the needle on the turntable does not jump.

[@FotogInkArt]

Just ordered one to go under my Sansui 838. Thanks !

[@DingleBerry88]

I run a diy isolation base made of 1.5 inch butcher block and sorbothane pads. I haven’t really done a direct comparison lately but between the wood floors, living near a highway, 2 dogs running around, having an extremely resonate ikea entertainment center for a rack and an extremely sensitive Ortofon 2m Black cartridge: I wouldn’t go without it. Anything that helps keep vibrations at bay will make a difference. If you’re not in a basement on a concrete slab getting some isolation is going to be worth it.

[@Ctophermon]

I use 4 hockey pucks. They absorb any vibration and raise the plinth on my vintage Sony turntable and keeps it running cool.

[@martinmerino3272]

I have the Zazen 1 and 2 and it made the BIGGEST difference in my set up because of cabinet resonance. Invested about 3 grand in a new system and it still sounded shrill and boomy until I purchased these.

[@keithposter5543]

Wall mounted rack/shelf. Job done.

[@stephenlee1833]

You certainly can have your speakers on the same cabinet but you need to make sure everything is decoupled. I made my own isolation stands for my elac debut reference speakers using two small, thick butcher's blocks and isolation spikes by PrecisionGeek. As for my Planar 3 I bought a handcrafted, solid oak isolation plinth from eBay. Was an absolute game changer for me. The whole sound tightened up with better separation and more clarity. And now of course I can crank the volume up without causing any feedback loop

[@cpta03]

Great review, Frank! I don’t have an isolation base and I don’t think I need one. I haven’t noticed any noise in quiet passages. My music room has a medium weight wall to wall carpet, so no problem with people walking about. But , the Fluance isolation base looks good with your Fluance turntable. I measured my Technics SL1200 Mk 2’s base and it’s about 2 inches wider than the isolation base, so this base is not for me. Aside from isolation, the Fluance base would be a nice addition for turntables with non-adjustable feet. I hope you have more of your Wednesday reviews! Thank you for your excellent videos.

[@sidesup8286]

I'm a vibration resonance expert and devices like that always make a positive difference. I would try it on a wide variety of recordings which you are VERY FAMILIAR with; have played a zillion times, and preferably have played very recently. Also using your normal volume level.Sonic memory is very short; when it comes to evaluating. People who just sit down and slap any old thing on, and say to themselves "OK Now IMPRESS ME", aren't really doing things right, and it does not result in accurate evaluation. You are correct that the bass is the thing probably most improved. Listen for increased openness of sound, also transients should be a little less smeared on fast piano note runs etc. Finally listen for more smoothness and purity; which might take trained ears on the latter of those two. In my experience, isolation bases make just as much improvement under cd players. Which means a laser reading music is just as delicate as a stylus playing a groove. Common woods have some degree of effective vibration damping, but some of the more exotic woods like African Ebony, also known as Mpingo Wood are so dense and good at it, that it makes a world of difference. People have ruined cutting equipment trying to cut African Ebony/Mpingo Wood. That is what I use throughout my system and I know a lot of my sound quality is due to using it. It also makes a difference under preamps and amps to maybe a lesser degree. They are prone to vibration also. The better high end electronics have internal parts that are less vibratory. On a circuit board all the parts are vibrating and are affected by each others vibrations. Glass circuit boards have been used to great effect on some usually exotic equipment. Glass is made from sand, which is an excellent vibration dampening material. I have one of the rarest audio items ever. The original VPI Isolation base which they came out with around 1980, and only made for a very short while. So rare that it is near impossible to bring up a pic of it on the internet. It is made of steel and or tungsten carbide. It feels heavier than steel to me. It made a HUGE improvement in my sound, under my turntable. It is laminated around the top and sides, because unshielded steel sounds awful, too close to circuitry, and makes it sound ironically "steely " VPI Industries, famous for their turntables, have after many decades, started making turntable bases again. Theirs are priced around the $1500 mark. There are many companies like Townshend that make very sophisticated expensive high end isolation bases. A best selling but expensive base known to many high end audiophiles was called the Vibraplane.

[@lewis72]

Would also make a good chopping board. I always found regular chopping boards to be quite noisy.

[@VMX1.]

Hmmm...looks interesting there Frank....Great episode as always.

[@Channel33RPM]

Thank you kindly

[@Wyoming734]

Mine arrived today.

[@jro7075]

This is a very nice looking piece and I thought you were going to give a great rating but you were honest all seven of my TT's are in my basement man cave concrete floor I made my own isolation like base using marble foam and tiles I have seen many of these isolation bases since I was in my 20's always claiming the same always expensive but this was cheaper than I thought but If I had a fluance I would get one to match the TT like I said I have made my own isolation bases and I keep tweaking them with different materials ,I like the fact the fluance base has adjustable feet I had to adjust mine the hard way at times it is difficult ,one of my home made is with a piece of quarter inch sanded and painted with acrylic clear and then four pieces of thick quarter inch foam with a large piece of ceramic floor tile and same kind of foam and a 1 inch slab of marble I found at my job made 2 of them for my pro-ject TT and my Dual 1009sk TT the others have tile and foam and same kilnd of wood in 3 layers,do not know any difference so does it work ????????? JRo

[@eternalhalloween1]

For me, this probably wouldn't make a lot of sense Frank. If I want to pull out my records of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977) or ROMEO & JULIET (1968), I have to connect my turntable to my laptop. I also have a great LP of CATS (1981). But where that is concerned, I realized it makes more sense to watch the DVD 📀 and see the actual cats.

[@markpocock183]

Thanks Frank. Maybe as an experiment put your turntable on top of your speaker, with and without the isolator. That should make it clear if it is doing anything.

[@barryrodych3266]

HeyFrank ilive in Dufreesñe Man not to far from Decends Corner your videos are helpful and yes a isolation base in my opinion is a must mine is approximately 20 pounds ìt holds my 60 pound VPI huge difference

[@grahambiggs9822]

A great idea but with minimal difference I dont think I would pay that much for it. Having said that it looks very nice with your pro-ject turntable. Thanks for the review Frank

[@ronaldweed6103]

I think it's a great ideas. I'm going to purchase one,same color. I have my turntable on a table, and my turntable needs this thx. I apologize for being late

[@robotwars7763]

I use IsoAcoustics pucks under my speakers and mini pucks under my turntable. To me it makes a hugh difference in my apartment with laminate flooring. Pricy , but worth the Investment

[@jmi5969]

I tried various ways of inducing vibration coupling to the stylus... no go. 20-kilogram vintage TT sitting on 200-kg vintage hard wood chest, completely indifferent to any vibration. That said, I'd love to see a matching sub-plinth... or two... if made to same size and finish (think of EMT hammered-grey paint).

[@theflipside-vinylcommunity]

Killer video bro

[@MK-tj5bf]

Wow. That exactly what I needed!

[@BluDeadwaxOutpost]

Well, it looks great anyway! That's also an important part of our hobby isn't it. Thanks for the honest review.

[@Channel33RPM]

Yes, it looks fantastic.

[@mikemoniz4441]

It makes a great gift for your birthday or Christmas. I wouldn't buy one but my kids can get me one.

[@JimmyV1530]

Nice review Frank, my question is how does it work for people that have wood floors and problems with heavy footed people walking by the TT / does it work from that standpoint of avoiding the vibration from the floor & skipping the stylus? Also still don't understand why Fluance has 4 different color TT's but this item only comes in 3 / of course I have the RT85 bamboo / the one color they don't provide, I assume black would work though, I guess I'll just keep on spinning.

[@Channel33RPM]

I can't comment on how well it works in that specific situation. That said, these are intended to help reduce that sort of external interference.

[@toniboi4848]

Can you make a video on recommendations of turntables/ types of record players . ex , entry level ( both serious and novice), mid level, high end. As someone starting to buy records to listen to, I'm curious as to if i should try to get a nice turntable or if i can just buy a cheap one from like target to just play my vinyl. PS i am totally new and don't know if there is a significance or reason to types of turntables.

[@kurtzcol]

another choice are sorbathane pads which i use

[@dmcbain44]

One of the advantages of being relegated to the basement is there’s never any vibration ever. Now if they could just do something about the noise when the water heater kicks in.

[@Channel33RPM]

Yes, basements are generally great for music rooms!

[@ptg01]

@@Channel33RPM My family room / music room is on concrete slab... so no vibration to speak of...

[@MD-cy6pe]

the zazen I works for me.

[@ElClubDelViniloMexico]

My cement bricks do the job! LOL

[@johnnythefoxs]

Me myself I use Pro-ject Damp it, works excellent.

[@arthurridgley9116]

I don't have a turntable or any vinyl but am thinking about getting into it. However, I'm very limited on space and atop my subwoofer is really the only place I have for one. Is that at all possible?

[@williamjoelserson4898]

So how did the Technics work out? Was it too big for the isolation base?

[@bruceauchly2779]

Remember what he said: His equipment is in a room with a concrete floor not a wood floor. I have a wood laminate floor in my living room and when I walk through I have to tip toe. Is this the answer? Help me Rhonda.

[@Channel33RPM]

Could be.

[@bruceauchly2779]

@@Channel33RPM Could be? For $120. Well now.

[@analogue33]

In my opinion, every little bit counts!😊

[@MaxellAdGuy]

they use same foot that people complained about on their turntable, and then priced same as my iso feet. Keep trying fluance, lol.

[@user-hr8vp7rx5l]

heres an idea...Make it right to begin with Fluance. And I own the turntable.....

[@rogerramjet5134]

I have used for 20 years or so a scrap piece of granite about maybe 3/4 inch thick with some sorbothene feet beneath it. Then more sorbothene feet under each leg of table. I can tap hard on my rack and feel Nothing on deck of table. The scrap piece of granite was practically free. The large sorbothene feet I bought from audioquest years ago. Maybe a hundred bucks for four. I remember when my wife found out I spent a hundred bucks back in the 90’s on gelatinous globs LOL 😝

[@BriansVinylRecords]

Frank, I have a turntable upstairs were the floor isn’t as solid as my cement floor basement. When the dogs jump off the couches or the kids run around it causes my turntable to skip at times. Do you feel this would be a good absorber of that bouncing of the floor for my turntable? I do have some isolation spring feet that do a decent job, but am looking for something better. Thanks.

[@Channel33RPM]

It may help. You can always buy via Amazon, and return it if it doesn't help out in your particular situation.

[@PrankZabba]

The most crazy set up I have seen was an entire stereo hanging from the ceiling on chains and planks. Never seen a single person have a stereo setup like that. There's no way any of that vibration is getting to the ceiling to transfer to the stereo. When I got my Micro Seiki rebuilt. They added triangular metal points. So, to set it up. I use 4 black hockey pucks under the turntable.

[@helgar791]

For turntables, macro-vibrations are extremely bad, but in reality it's micro-vibrations that are anathema to TT's. Those pervasive and persistent tiny vibrations play havoc with the arm/cartridge union and its ability to track. Platforms help with macro's, but a dedicated stand with a good platform go much further in protecting your TT from those tiny vibrations that you cannot feel, but your TT does.

[@tomaseriksson4533]

A simple MDF plinths just add nasty peak resonances around 300-500Hz. It is useless for absorb and kill vibrations in the mids. If it is different layers of MDF&HDF with some viscoelastic glue between the layers then it can kill the vibrations and transform it to heat. This is by the shear force act same as friction that we know generate heat. Spikes doesn't do anything good more than couple the MDF board to the furniture. So it is useless for the bass also. If it is built as this product it is described it will move broadband energy with very small amplitudes that can't be identified from all frequencies to create peak resonances that can be heard in the mids.

[@gregbenefield7658]

Looks good anyway

[@DynamicInjection]

Not for me but thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@Channel33RPM]

Thanks for watching!

[@lewis72]

Considering it's not _that_ expensive, there's not much point in criticising it to the moon and back. To me it seems like a big slab of mass-damping that looks quite good and has the convenience of adjustable feet. To many, the latter two points alone may justify the price.

[@Channel33RPM]

I don't think I criticized to the moon and back (at least that was not my intention). I thought this was largely a favorable review. And as I said, I continue to use it.

[@lewis72]

@@Channel33RPM No, you didn't criticize it to the moon and back. My bad, I should have written "there's not much point *in me* criticising it ~ "

[@Channel33RPM]

Ahhh, ok, understood. My bad. Cheers!

[@DANVIIL]

Placebo effect works every time. I use an inexpensive cork and rubber square from eBay that was under $20. and some drum dampener pads under that and it works extremely well. I bought those off of eBay too. My total cost was probably under $40 It doesn't look as cool as the Fluance but for the $120. difference, I can live with it.

[@ijuggle42]

Sooooo, is it worth it?? No, not really.

[@CajunReaper95]

To be fair any vibrations isn’t good for any electronic devices as prolonged vibrations can cause issues with components and their solder joints over time.

[@ptg01]

Confirmation Bias ? Best to do it double blind !!!

[@joet_swbo101]

I honestly don't see the purpose of these, especially for over $100. The bubble level is a nice idea. All my turntables have always been placed on VERY HEAVY pieces of isolated furniture, with my speakers a good distance away separately. No need for this. Maybe if your TT is on a piece of flimsy cheap furniture that can't be leveled. I can possibly see that. However to me it's just another way to get you to part with your money.

[@matthewpeterson1055]

Back in the 70s they did not have all these extra snake oil products.

[@Suddsy.]

Your to nice when saying thats its a waste of money for rhe average music lover. Yes i vet it for the very high end stuff but for my modest Den music room i wouldn't notice a difference and if i really wanted to try one i would just build one. Just my 2. Cents

[@Travistronics]

I be 60 and imho, you would get 90% of the effect from ANYTHING that was that heavy and fit under your turntable

[@Vince_Tasciotti]

Nope, I don't use an isolation base on my turntable. It sits on top of a '70s era wooden stereo cabinet, which in turn is mounted on a custom-built riser. I built the riser to make up for the uneven concrete floor in my basement listening room.

[@JoesBlows]

You heard no improvements because this is all snake oil. Put a chopping board under your table and it will sound better. That's silly. The way to reduce unwanted vibrations via a passive method is with, Constrained Layer Dampers,which is the most effective way to reduce vibrations. Made of Aluminum or steel laminated to a visco elastic polymer which is often self adhesive. Learn more by checking into HEATHCOTE ,makers of such products,and educating your selfs on the subject. Keep the cutting boards in the kitchen for your onions.

[@themountain59]

Nothing a 25$ IKEA cuttingboard and 4 rubber feet wouldnt accomplish 🙄

[@stefanegger]

What is the point if it has "the same feet" you already have? LOL

[@Channel33RPM]

Doesn't really matter if it's the same feet or not. They could be shaped like pucks. The principle idea doesn't change - this helps de-couple your turntable from the surface it sits on.

[@BC-fy1wn]

nice non review review

[@DJStanSteel]

Looks over kill and far to expensive. Folks just need a surface that’s correct for putting their TT on. Nothing more.

[@Boggedy]

In other words, more audiophile grade nonsense.

[@beachcomber3036]

1970s Friend Had His Turntable in a Half Whisky Barrel Filled With Sand 2 Eliminate The Vibration From Dancing 2 His Music in His House 🎶🏠🎶

[@RoccoXYZ1]

The three point floating suspension brought out by AR in the early sixties has never been surpassed. The heavy plinths are ok but not as good as the old AR. This was copied my Thorens and Lynn. Why nobody makes such tables today is a mystery.